mericon Pathogen Detection Assays are a suite of kits for the target-specific detection of bacterial pathogen DNA in food, animal feed, and pharmaceutical products. All of the assays use the same real-time PCR-based protocol. They are part of the comprehensive QIAGEN food testing portfolio, which also features dedicated sample preparation kits and assays for ingredient authentication and GMO DNA detection. mericon assays perform optimally on the Rotor-Gene Q, but have also been validated for block thermal cyclers.

mericon Pathogen Detection Assays are intended for molecular biology applications in food, animal feed, and pharmaceutical product testing. These products are not intended for the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of a disease.

Performance

mericon Campylobacter spp Kit

The mericon Campylobacter spp Kit is for the specific detection of several Campylobacter subspecies in enrichment cultures of food and animal feed samples. The assay can detect as few as 10 copies of Campylobacter DNA in a reaction and it exhibits high specificity for pathogens this genus. In an experiment using 2500 copies of the tested DNA, no cross-reactivity was observed with other pathogens (see the table "Results of mericon Campylobacter spp Kit cross-reactivity study").

mericon Campylobacter triple Kit

The mericon Campylobacter triple Kit is designed for the detection of Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli, and C. laridis in enrichment cultures of food and animal feed samples. The assay can detect as few as 10 copies of C. jejuni, C. coli, or C. laridis DNA in a reaction and it exhibits high specificity. In an experiment using 2500 copies of the tested DNA, no cross-reactivity was observed with other pathogens (see the table "Results of mericon Campylobacter triple Kit cross-reactivity study").

mericon Cronobacter spp Kit

The mericon Cronobacter spp Kit is for the specific detection of Chronobacter subspecies in enrichment cultures of food and animal feed samples. Due to a recent change in taxonomy and according to regulation of the EU Commission (365/2010) the name Cronobacter spp replaces Enterobacter sakazakii. The assay can detect as few as 10 copies of Cronobacter DNA in a reaction and it exhibits high specificity. In an experiment using 2500 copies of the tested DNA, no cross-reactivity was observed with other pathogens (see the table "Results of mericon Cronobacter spp Kit cross-reactivity study").

mericon Quant Legionella spp Kit

The mericon Quant Legionella spp Kit is for the specific detection and quantification of several Legionella species in water after concentration (e.g., by filtration). The assay can detect as few as 10 copies of Legionella DNA in a reaction and it exhibits high specificity for pathogens of that genus. In an experiment using 2500 copies of the tested DNA, no cross-reactivity was observed with other pathogens (see the table "Results of mericon Quant Legionella spp Kit cross-reactivity study").

mericon Quant L. pneumophila Kit

The mericon Quant L. pneumophila Kit is for the specific detection and quantification of Legionella pneumophila in water after concentration (e.g., by filtration). The assay can detect as few as 10 copies of L. pneumophila DNA in a reaction and it exhibits high specificity for L. pneumophila . In an experiment using 2500 copies of the tested DNA, no cross-reactivity was observed with other pathogens (see the table "Results of mericon Quant L. pneumophila Kit cross-reactivity study").

mericon Listeria spp Kit

The mericon Listeria spp Kit is for the specific detection of several Listeria subspecies in enrichment cultures of food and animal feed samples. The assay can detect as few as 10 copies of Listeria DNA in a reaction and it exhibits high specificity for pathogens of this genus. In an experiment using 2500 copies of the tested DNA, no cross-reactivity was observed with other pathogens (see the table "Results of mericon Listeria Kit cross-reactivity study").

mericon L. monocytogenes Kit

The mericon L. monocytogenes Kit is for the specific detection of Listeria monocytogenes in enrichment cultures of food and animal feed samples. The assay can detect as few as 10 copies of L. monocytogenes DNA in a reaction and it exhibits high specificity. In an experiment using 2500 copies of the tested DNA, no cross-reactivity was observed with other pathogens, even closely-related Listeria species (see the table "Results of mericon L. monocytogenes Kit cross-reactivity study").

mericon Salmonella spp Kit

The mericon Salmonella spp Kit is for the specific detection of several Salmonella subspecies in enrichment cultures of food and animal feed samples. The assay can detect as few as 10 copies of Salmonella DNA in a reaction and it exhibits high specificity for pathogens of this genus. In an experiment using 2500 copies of the tested DNA, no cross-reactivity was observed with other pathogens (see the table "Results of mericon Salmonella spp Kit cross-reactivity study").

mericon Shigella spp Kit

The mericon Shigella spp Kit is for the specific detection of several Shigella subspecies in enrichment cultures of food and animal feed samples. The assay can detect as few as 10 copies of Shigella DNA in a reaction and it exhibits high specificity for pathogens of this genus. In an experiment using 2500 copies of the tested DNA, no cross-reactivity was observed with other pathogens (see the table "Results of mericon Shigella spp Kit cross-reactivity study").

mericon S. aureus Kit

The mericon S. aureus Kit is for the specific detection of Staphylococcus aureus in enrichment cultures of food and animal feed samples. The assay can detect as few as 10 copies of S. aureus DNA in a reaction and it exhibits high specificity. In an experiment using 2500 copies of the tested DNA, no cross-reactivity was observed with other pathogens (see the table "Results of mericon S. aureus Kit cross-reactivity study").

mericon VTEC stx1/2 Kit

The mericon VTEC stx1/2 Kit is for the specific detection of the strains of Escherichia coli that produce verotoxins, also called Shiga toxins, in enrichment cultures of food and animal feed samples. The assay can detect as few as 10 copies of verotoxin-producing E. coli DNA in a reaction and it exhibits high specificity. In an experiment using 2500 copies of the tested DNA, no cross-reactivity was observed with other pathogens (see the table "Results of mericon VTEC stx1/2 Kit cross-reactivity study").

mericon Y. enterocolitica Kit

The mericon Y. enterocolitica Kit is designed for the detection of Yersinia enterocolitica in enrichment cultures of food and animal feed samples. The kit specifically detects human pathogen serotypes 0:3, 0:5, 0:6, 0:8, 0:9, and 0:5:27. The assay can detect as few as 10 copies of Yersinia enterocolitica DNA in a reaction and exhibits high specificity. In an experiment using 2500 copies of the tested DNA, no cross-reactivity was observed with other pathogens (see the table "Results of mericon Y. enterocolitica Kit cross-reactivity study").

Results of mericon Campylobacter spp Kit cross-reactivity study

Pathogen

Result

Pathogen

Result

Campylobacter jejuni

+

Campylobacter coli

+

Campylobacter laridis

+

Campylobacter upsaliensis

+

Salmonella spp.

–

VTEC stx1

–

Clostridium perfringens

–

VTEC stx2

–

Legionella erythra

–

Yersinia enterocolitica

–

Staphylococcus aureus

–

Listeria monocytogenes

–

Results of mericon Campylobacter triple Kit cross-reactivity study

Pathogen

Result

Pathogen

Result

Campylobacter jejuni

+

Campylobacter coli

+

Campylobacter laridis

+

Campylobacter upsaliensis

–

Salmonella spp.

–

VTEC stx1

–

Clostridium perfringens

–

VTEC stx2

–

Legionella pneumophila

–

Yersinia enterocolitica

–

Staphylococcus aureus

–

Listeria monocytogenes

–

Escherichia coli

–

Bacillus cereus

–

Results of mericon Cronobacter spp Kit cross-reactivity study

Pathogen

Result

Pathogen

Result

Cronobacter sakazakii

+

Listeria monocytogenes

–

Staphylococcus aureus

–

Escherichia coli

–

Salmonella spp.

–

Legionella erythra

–

Clostridium perfringens

–

Bacillus cereus

–

Legionella pneumophila

–

Yersinia enterocolitica

–

Shigella flexneri

–

VTEC stx1

–

Campylobacter jejuni

–

VTEC stx2

–

Results of mericon Legionella spp Kit cross-reactivity study

Pathogen

Result

Pathogen

Result

Legionella pneumophila

+

Legionella erythra

+

Salmonella thyphimurium

–

Escherichia coli

–

Shigella flexneri

–

Bacillus cereus

–

Clostridium perfringens

–

Yersinia enterocolitica

–

Campylobacter jejuni

–

Results of mericon L. pneumophila Kit cross-reactivity study

Pathogen

Result

Pathogen

Result

Legionella pneumophila

+

Legionella erythra

–

Salmonella thyphimurium

–

Escherichia coli

–

Shigella flexneri

–

Bacillus cereus

–

Clostridium perfringens

–

Yersinia enterocolitica

–

Campylobacter jejuni

–

Results of mericon Listeria spp Kit cross-reactivity study

Pathogen

Result

Pathogen

Result

Listeria monocytogenes

+

Cronobacter sakazakii

–

Listeria welshimeri

+

Legionella pneumophila

–

Listeria seeligeri

+

Staphylococcus aureus

–

Listeria ivanovii

+

Bacillus cereus

–

Listeria innocua

+

Yersinia enterocolitica

–

Listeria marthii

+

VTEC

–

Listeria grayi

+

Legionella erythra

–

Listeria rocoutiae

+

Shigella flexneri

–

Campylobacter jejuni

–

Clostridium perfringens

–

Escherichia coli

–

Results of mericon L. monocytogenes Kit cross-reactivity study

Pathogen

Result

Pathogen

Result

Listeria monocytogenes

+

Cronobacter sakazakii

–

Clostridium perfringens

–

Bacillus cereus

–

Staphylococcus aureus

–

Legionella erythra

–

Salmonella spp.

–

Campylobacter jejuni

–

Yersinia enterocolitica

–

Legionella pneumophila

–

Shigella flexneri

–

VTEC stx1

–

Escherichia coli

–

VTEC stx2

–

Listeria innocua

–

Listeria welshimeri

–

Listeria ivanovii spp. Ivanovii

–

Listeria grayi

–

Listeria seeligeri

–

Results of mericon Salmonella spp Kit cross-reactivity study

Pathogen

Result

Pathogen

Result

Salmonella spp

+

Cronobacter sakazakii

–

Clostridium perfringens

–

Bacillus cereus

–

Staphylococcus aureus

–

Legionella erythra

–

Listeria monocytogenes

–

Campylobacter jejuni

–

Yersinia enterocolitica

–

Legionella pneumophila

–

Shigella flexneri

–

VTEC stx1

–

Escherichia coli

–

VTEC stx2

–

Results of mericon Shigella spp Kit cross-reactivity study

Pathogen

Result

Pathogen

Result

Shigella spp.

+

Listeria monocytogenes

–

Staphylococcus aureus

–

Escherichia coli

–

Salmonella spp.

–

Bacillus cereus

–

Clostridium perfringens

–

Yersinia enterocolitica

–

Campylobacter jejuni

–

Legionella erythra

–

VTEC stx1

–

VTEC stx2

–

Results of mericon S. aureus Kit cross-reactivity study

Pathogen

Result

Pathogen

Result

Staphylococcus aureus

+

Listeria monocytogenes

–

Cronobacter sakazakii

–

Escherichia coli

–

Salmonella spp.

–

Legionella erythra

–

Clostridium perfringens

–

Bacillus cereus

–

Legionella pneumophila

–

Yersinia enterocolitica

–

Shigella flexneri

–

VTEC stx1

–

Campylobacter jejuni

–

VTEC stx2

–

Results of mericon VTEC stx1/2 Kit cross-reactivity study

Pathogen

Result

Pathogen

Result

VTEC stx1

+

VTEC stx2

+

Campylobacter jejuni

–

Escherichia coli

–

Salmonella spp.

–

Legionella erythra

–

Clostridium perfringens

–

Bacillus cereus

–

Legionella pneumophila

–

Yersinia enterocolitica

–

Staphylococcus aureus

–

Listeria monocytogenes

–

Results of mericon Y. enterocolitica Kit cross-reactivity study

Pathogen

Result

Pathogen

Result

Yersinia enterocolitica

+

Listeria monocytogenes

–

non-pathogenic Yersinia
enterocolitica

–

Escherichia coli

–

Staphylococcus aureus

–

Bacillus cereus

–

Clostridium perfringens

–

Salmonella spp.

–

Campylobacter jejuni

–

Legionella erythra

–

VTEC stx1

–

VTEC stx2

–

The mericon Quant L. pneumophila Kit is for the specific detection and quantification of Legionella pneumophila in water after concentration (e.g., by filtration). The assay can detect as few as 10 copies of L. pneumophila DNA in a reaction and it exhibits high specificity for L. pneumophila . In an experiment using 2500 copies of the tested DNA, no cross-reactivity was observed with other pathogensThe mericon Quant Legionella spp Kit is for the specific detection and quantification of several Legionella species in water after concentration (e.g., by filtration). The assay can detect as few as 10 copies of Legionella DNA in a reaction and it exhibits high specificity for pathogens of that genus. In an experiment using 2500 copies of the tested DNA, no cross-reactivity was observed with other pathogens (see the table "Results of mericon Quant Legionella spp Kit cross-reactivity study").

Principle

Detection of pathogens using real-time PCR is based on the amplification of a specific region of the relevant pathogen genome. The amplified product is detected using target-specific fluorescent probes that bind to it. As the PCR product accumulates, there is an increased fluorescent signal from the bound probes. Monitoring the fluorescence intensities during the PCR run (i.e., in real time) allows the detection of the accumulating PCR product without having to re-open the reaction tubes afterward.

mericon PCR Assays include an internal control to control potential inhibiton. This aids in the straightforward interpretation of the results (see the table "Summary of possible PCR outcomes").

The PCR primer set for each assay is highly specific and targets a unique and conserved region of the tested pathogen genome that has been bioinformatically and experimentally verified.

Summary of possible PCR outcomes

Internal control amplified

Tested DNA amplified

Meaning

+

+

Sample is positive for the target DNA

+

–

Sample is negative for the target DNA

–

–

PCR failed due to inhibition

Procedure

DNA is extracted from an enrichment culture of a sample of food or animal feed using a dedicated sample preparation kit. The mericon Bacteria Kit is for the isolation of bacterial DNA from Gram-negative bacteria. The mericon Bacteria Plus Kit is for the isolation of bacterial DNA from Gram-positive bacteria.

The isolated, pure bacterial DNA is assayed using a streamlined real-time PCR protocol that returns results in 73 minutes on QIAGEN's Rotor-Gene Q. The protocol has also been validated for use on other thermal block cyclers.